Though even cynically doing an about face to a now-popular position due to the polls has some merit in that at least one can say that this politician has respec

Though even cynically doing an about face to a now-popular position due to the polls has some merit in that at least one can say that this politician has respect for and is listening to the population. They are capitulating their position and acknowledging that the population they seek to represent does not agree with them. They may still personally believe differently (who knows) but they are putting the opinions of the population in front of their own. What is unfortunate is that in politics we rarely see a politician talk about situations where they were wrong or made mistakes and they much prefer to turn the page and stick with their talking points of their new idea. I think there's well developed political science and strategic reasons for this. I sometimes say to myself that I'd take another look at some politician I previously disagreed with if they actually offered real apology and regret, but maybe that's not really true.